Transport congestion

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33665, 15 October 1974, Page 18

Transport congestion

When the President of the • Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr J. D. Bull) spoke of “mountains of cargo, ■ involving millions of dollars ” being held up because manufacturers and merchants are finding it difficult to have goods moved expeditiously between the two islands, he was not seriously exaggerating the dimensions of the problem. His dismay is well founded; for the delays are causing enough economic disruption by wasting so much time, labour, and productive capacity that they warrant a serious and urgent response by all who have the means to end the problem. The introduction of the roll-on ferries between Picton and Wellington altered the country’s pattern of transport dramatically. Goods that would once have been carried on coastal ships are now moved by rail because the rates offered by the railways are lower. When the system works properly it should also provide quicker delivery. At times the volume of goods to be moved exceeds the capacity of the railway system. Manufacturers can hardly fall back on coastal shipping: even if shipping were available the railways must have sufficient waggons to move goods from the wharves.

Buoyant economic conditions in the last year or more have greatly increased the flow of goods, particularly imports. But the problems are not explained solely by the high volume of goods on the move. The wet winter has made it difficult to keep the rail link between Picton and Christchurch open. The Railways Department admits ’ that sections of the line are urgently in need of renovation. Traffic on the line is so heavy that the least delay has serious repercussions. -Uncertainty about coastal shipping services after the withdrawal of the Hawea, the Wanaka and, later, the Holmlea has made it more difficult for shippers to take steps to relieve the pressure on the railways. If economic activity slows down over the next few months as has been predicted, and if new railway rolling stock is supplied as expected, the transport system should enjoy some relief. A temporary respite must not allow any slackening of effort to obtain a balanced and smoothly integrated transport system to link the islands. Apart from the immediate convenience and efficiency of satisfactory transport, the future of many industries in the South Island is at stake. Even if South Island firms are competitive in prices, they must also be competitive with other suppliers in the service they give to customers. The Government has already committed large sums of money to buy or build rolling stock and to improve the railway line between Picton and Christchurch. At the same time it has prevented a complete collapse of coastal shipping services by continuing the Rangatira’s service and by putting the Coastal Trader on the run once served by the Wanaka. The worst of it is that the whole system is running at a loss, to be met by the taxpayer, and a rationalisation of railway and shipping charges is long overdue. At last the Coastal Trader is performing the service expected of it; but it is not enough to satisfy the greater demands of manufacturers. Reliance on the internal transport system to move overseas containers to and from North Island container ports is no longer satisfactory. The pattern of shipping has altered dramatically since plans for major container ports were devised several years ago. The change is, in part, the result of overseas shipping lines’ decisions on container services to New Zealand. While the months slip by the difficulties grow and a decision on the handling of containers at South Island ports has become urgent The Railways Department has decided, probably wisely, against building another link span at Lyttelton to reduce dependence on the line between Christchurch and Picton. But it is a piecemeal business, and the whole transport system would benefit from a coherent • programme of construction and renovation; some decisive moves by New Zealand authorities would leave this country much less at the mercy of overseas shipping lines. The programme must, of course, be devised in consultation with shipping companies: but a clear plan of action by New Zealand would require the lines to comply with a system that suits this country’s needs and means. y